The Council of Fashion Designers of America has teamed up with the Accessories Council to launch the second consecutive edition of the Elaine Gold Launch Pad initiative aimed to support early emerging talent focused on design innovation and sustainability. The four-year partnership was formed last year with the intention to honor the legacy of Elaine Gold, an innovative accessories designer who passed away in 2015. The program is a 23-week virtual residency with milestone based micro-awards totaling $200,000 (handbag company, MZ Wallace, donated $25,000 for this year’s round). Finalists will also receive membership to Camp David, a co-working space based in Brooklyn.

Who should apply? Designers who have been in business for three years or under are encouraged to apply. Brands are encouraged to consider and incorporate ideas of sustainability, technology, and innovation within their design ethos, which are all ideas that are central to the program. The competitive selection is determined by creativity, vision, potential, authenticity, and alignment with the program’s core pillars. The selection committee is comprised of a dozen top players in the fashion industry including the CFDA’s CEO Steven Kolb, the Accessories Council’s president Karen Giberson, and designer Becca McCharan-Tran of Chromat.

For the inaugural edition last year Alexis Isabel, Bode, Ffora, Jahn Koy, Khiry, and Genusee were chosen as finalists.

This year Angela Luna of Adiff, Moya Annece + Ashley Cimone of Ashya, Leila Dumond of Cyril Studio, Morganne Leigh of Tyche + Iset Eyewear, and Leonid Batekhin of Occhi have been chosen for the second 2018- 2019 edition.